US says it killed or captured 25 ISIL operatives in Syria over nine days

In a string of attacks in Syria over the course of nine days, the US military claims to have killed or taken about 25 ISIL (ISIS) fighters.

The US military’s Middle East operations were concluded in a statement released on Tuesday by US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees the US military’s Middle East operations.

Following the widespread US airstrikes against the group six days after the deaths of two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter by an ISIL gunman in Syria on December 13, the campaign began.

At least seven ISIS members were killed and the remainder were captured during 11 missions conducted in Syria between December 20 and September, according to a statement from US Central Command (CENTCOM). “The operations also resulted in the destruction of four ISIS weapons caches.”

The names of the targets were not disclosed.

During the ISIL fight, which began in 2014, the US sent as many as 2, 000 soldiers to Syria.

With US President Donald Trump’s administration declaring this year that it would reduce the number of US bases and soldiers in the nation, the deployment is currently at around 1, 000.

From 2014 to 2019, ISIL held control of large areas in Syria and Iraq. US officials claimed that ISIL remnants still threaten the area despite the group’s territorial defeat.

In northeastern Syria, the US military has long cooperated with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a predominantly Kurdish-dominated organization. CENTCOM has stated that it is working with the new Syrian government since President Bashar al-Assad’s ascent a year ago.

After meeting with Trump and visiting the White House, former rebel commander Ahmed al-Sharaa, who had previously led a group with ties to al-Qaeda, and meeting with Trump, Syria officially joined the US-led global coalition against ISIL last month.

According to CENTCOM, the initial December 19 attacks against ISIL targeted “70 targets with more than 100 precision munitions” on Tuesday.

According to the statement, “The massive strike by dozens of fighter aircraft, attack helicopters, and artillery completely destroyed ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites in central Syria,” adding that the strikes were coordinated with Jordanian forces.

Brad Cooper, a commander of CENTCOM, stated that the US “will not relent” in pursuing ISIL remnants.

America, the region, and the world are safer if they keep on looking for terrorist operatives, eradicate ISIS networks, and collaborate with partners to stop a resurgence, he said.

Myriad difficulties

One of Syria’s many security challenges is the fight against ISIL.

Government forces and SDF fighters have been staging sporadic clashes.

The government in southern Syria claimed that Israel has been expanding its military presence beyond the Golan Heights, conducting raids, abducting and disappearing without a reason, and expanding its reach beyond the Golan Heights.

Trump, who has endorsed al-Sharaa and lifted sanctions against Damascus, told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “get along” with Syria on Monday.

Trump claimed that “we do understand Syria.” You now have a new president with Syria. I have faith in him. You need a strong man like him in Syria.